Anyone else notice between Wisconsin scoring, Don Brown appeared yelling at
November 17th, 2020 at 3:46 PM ^
Yeah, I saw that too and am fairly certain it was Zordich. Brown looked unhappy and Zordich seemed a little irritated that Brown was upset.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:59 PM ^
Well the best thing to do is have Harbaugh fire both of them. It’s not good to have that on the team. I guess it’s time for Don to go.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:51 PM ^
No the best thing to do is to send this whole staff to Bolivia. What makes you think harbaugh has a clue when hiring a new coordinator? We’ve been blaming the coordinators since durkin ditched us. Stop making excuses for the guy. Harbaugh sucks ass!
November 17th, 2020 at 5:29 PM ^
Harbaugh is a better coach than we think. He’s just a crappy recruiter.
November 17th, 2020 at 6:52 PM ^
Is that not part of being a coach?
its like saying “he a good chef, just bad at plating.” Or “he’s a good banker, just bad at distinguishing $10 bills from $100 bills”
November 17th, 2020 at 8:30 PM ^
Wow, the bar for bad takes just keeps getting set lower and lower. You make it sound as is we are taking 2-3 stars, not 4-5 stars playing like 2-3 stars. Tell me what amazing scheme is making you think he’s a better coach than us poor souls who watch the games and see how inept he is?? It’s the opposite and it’s not even close. He is an ok recruiter and a shitty coach. It’s not debatable, compare class recruiting rankings vs end of season rankings after the bowl games.
We always start the year ranked too high because the voters see the roster and can’t believe he would F it up again this year, lather, rinse, repeat.
November 17th, 2020 at 8:57 PM ^
Harbaugh's main thing on the team is he's his own QB coach, and the QBs have been a disaster for most of his tenure, so I dunno man. Citation needed.
November 18th, 2020 at 8:18 AM ^
We have a QB coach.
November 17th, 2020 at 11:12 PM ^
Few things: saying a coach is a good college coach / bad recruiter is pretty similar to saying he's a good coach, bad player caller (granted the Dantonio rule applies here if you're willing to put your team on "enhancers"). Also, I wouldn't say he's a "crappy" recruiter. He worst class I believe checked in at #18 nationally not counting the hybrid Hoke class. Even at that he is still recruiting better than 90% of college football, most year 95% better. We're witnessing a preparation issue, not a talent issue. Ricky White has no business torching Vince Gray who was a perfectly competent albeit unspectacular B1G as a Rs. Freshman. 1-3 is 100% on the coach's preparation this season.
November 18th, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
That's kind of an important part of being a coach in college football... Also I believe Michigan is in the top 5 teams with the most 4 and 5 star players on the team so the results point to poor coaching and player development as well. He needs to go.
November 17th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
Just take into consideration that Zordich is our connection to the bounty of DBs in the '22 class.
November 18th, 2020 at 9:21 AM ^
oh, ffs. there are lots of reasons to think about changes on the staff. an argument on the sideline (a BRIEF one) during an ass-kicking doesn't get anywhere near page one on the list, particularly if "not good to have that on the team" is the justification. jesus, this board has gotten dumb.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:12 PM ^
I’d be pissed if I was Zordich too with how ass Brown is calling his defense and not providing any support for his corners.
Also, Brown coaches the LBs and they look lost in coverage too. Another reason Zordich should be pissed off at Brown.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:32 PM ^
I'd be pissed if I were Brown with the kind of safety play Michigan is getting. Oh, and the CBs play. When Vincent Gray is worse than he was last year, it might be a coaching issue.
Brown is doing as badly with the LBs, I agree, but the secondary is a disaster as well, and a lot of it is just not knowing how to play or what to do.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:45 PM ^
I'm sure it's frustrating for him. But if you don't have a Jourdan Lewis or David Long who can be left on an island, what's Plan B?
November 17th, 2020 at 5:27 PM ^
Read the MSU UFR just below the detailed play chart: https://www.mgoblog.com/content/upon-further-review-2020-defense-vs-msu
Basically, know thy limitations. If you can't keep up with a guy don't worry about getting your head around, keep running and play the ball when it gets there.
The vast majority of college football corners are not NFL players, we play corners like this all the time and don't throw as easily on them as we're getting thrown on. There are ways to coach to this talent.
But there's no denying our entire secondary has been abysmal with run support. That's entirely coaching.
November 18th, 2020 at 9:09 AM ^
Which is why Harbaugh in year 6 needs to go. If there is no Plan B that's entirely on him at this point.
On a side note, after he's gone, waiting for a book or someone to speak out as to what happened to this once proud, outspoken, fearless and wildly successful coach. Have heard whispers but nothing remotely definitive as to what happened.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^
Gray didn't play consistently last year, and he also had Josh Uche (plus Paye and Hutchinson) getting after the QB. There's no pass rush this year. Michigan is #92 in sacks this year, and they were #21 last year. And if it weren't for a crappy Minnesota team, Michigan would be a whole lot worse. They have 1 sack in the past three weeks.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
Every now and then someone with a little knowledge and insight speaks up here, and it's so refreshing. None of these failures happen in a vacuum.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:18 PM ^
This has been discussed ad nauseam. The pass rush is suffering a lot more from poor coverage than vice versa. When a QB can take a three step drop and just toss it up, there's nothing the pass rush can do.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:45 PM ^
Why are Hinton, Kemp, & Jeter so bad? They are good recruits. Is it coaching or were they just recruiting misses and/or not a good fit? I know Kemp was an SDE in HS and I think Hinton was too. Also, shouldn't Mazi be able to contribute at this point? Do you think this is a recruiting, fit, or development problem?
November 18th, 2020 at 11:58 AM ^
Agree they need a lot more sack!
November 17th, 2020 at 5:09 PM ^
Jean-Mary is the LB coach so that has been a great pick up.
In terms of safeties. Oh hay! *Waves through monitor* The coach for our safeties is using Zoom to coach so that seems to be working well.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:24 PM ^
The LBs mindlessly overrun every play, and you often see players in the same spot...it's terrible. Poor discipline to me. And Ross and Barrett seem too small...would rather see a normal sized Kemp play LB, even if he gets beat now and again to the edge..because we are getting annihilated on any cutback runs.
November 18th, 2020 at 9:36 AM ^
Keep in mind that Shoop is the Safety Coach....and he is AWOL. This means that Zordich is perhaps coaching both, which means he doesn't have enough eyes to watch both, or they are getting half the time they used to at each position which translates to regression for both groups.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:05 PM ^
No that it matters, but doesn't Brian Jean-Mary coach the LBs? I've always thought Brown was a pretty good LB coach, which I believe he has done at Michigan in previous years. But you're absolutely right that the LBs (McGrone and Ross) look completely lost this season, for whatever reason. Honestly, to me, they have been the most disappointing position group so far. We knew the CBs would struggle. The LBs were expected to push for All-Conference based on previous performance and they have regressed pretty severely.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:16 PM ^
Is it true Zordich doesn't recruit? If so, who is he to complain.
November 17th, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^
Exactly. When was the last time this defense had a sack or even sustained pressure on a win to help the secondary
November 18th, 2020 at 8:41 AM ^
This. The LBs were inconsolably lost out there.
I missed this little confrontation but I did see a whole lot of deer-in-the-headlights look from Brown...and Harbaugh either with his hands on his knees or wandering aimlessly among the players. When the official team leaders are directionless and lost and dysfunctional in the heat of the battle it is both difficult and unreasonable to expect the team to pull itself up by the bootstraps. This is why these two deserve the criticism they are receiving. I have no idea what Gattis was doing.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:48 PM ^
I mean, they're both at fault. Zordich for recruiting guys who can't play at this level and Brown for not being able to scheme around this glaring weakness. Honestly need a clean sweep of the defensive staff, they're all horrible.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:59 PM ^
One aspect that pisses me off about our DBs for a few years is that it appears that the main strategy taught is to hold on every play. I understand that holding is very common, but we seem to do it in such an obvious fashion that the officials are watching us with extra scrutiny.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
Guys like Lewis and Hill could do it and get away with it because they were at least in good coverage, so they could afford to get that subtle edge. Grey on the other hand blatantly holds because he's completely lost his man and starts to panic. It all comes down to lack of talent and athleticism, which again comes down to piss poor recruiting. I think Zordich can coach them up as well as anyone, but he's a net negative because of his recruiting.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:35 PM ^
Lewis is the only corner in recent history who even appeared to try and locate the ball. All of the CB's have been holding and strictly reacting to the receiver - many of those reactions are just too late. None of them look for the ball. That's on coaching. It also sounds like Zordich isn't much of a recruiter. I'm still not sold on the idea of different coaches for the corners and safeties.
November 17th, 2020 at 10:43 PM ^
The memory of this board is so fucking short.
Peppers, Lewis, Long, Hill x2, Ambry, Clark, Stribling, Metellus & Wilson - all of these guys came thru in the last 5 years and are amongst the best DBs in UM history. Most of these guys at least had a cup of coffee in the NFL or are still there. Dax may be the best one yet and is a sure fire NFL player. But we have one bad year and all of a sudden Brown and Zordich can neither recruit nor coach. Ok got it...
November 17th, 2020 at 4:47 PM ^
Exactly. A little holding here and there is allowed, especially when the defender is sticking close to his man. The current M corners are desperately lunging and grabbing in a pretty blatant way. Plus now they have a reputation for doing so.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^
Sorry for the double.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
I'm sure the directive is "hold if you're getting beat". It just so happens that our guys this year are getting beat more often than guys like David Long, Ambry Thomas, Lavert Hill, or Jourdan Lewis ever were.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:26 PM ^
David Long was so good.
One of the most underrated Wolverines in recent memory, IMO.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:50 PM ^
He’s slept on because literally no one threw at him. It was unbelievable how QBs never looked in his direction.
Ambry should have been our nickel in 2018. I would imagine we would have done better against OSU with Ambry on the slot than Brandon Watson.
November 17th, 2020 at 8:10 PM ^
Bingo. Lavert had a ton of potential but never really progressed from his frosh and early soph games - folks gave him too much attention (local and family name effect) and not enough on Long early (IMO).
Long was fantastic and the only nick on his record was a lack of INTs. He played the run fairly well and locked down his WR.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:14 PM ^
Anyone notice how bad Josh Ross has been at LB? What the heck happened?
November 17th, 2020 at 4:29 PM ^
He is slow. That injury has really screwed up his prior abilities
November 17th, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
He's always been slow McGrone must be have some nagging injury.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:49 PM ^
Don should be yelling in the mirror. Loudly.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:49 PM ^
Yes. And I was glad to see them join me because I sure as shit was yelling too.
And not in a good way.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:05 PM ^
That Indiana / Wisconsin parlay was calling your name last week.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:31 PM ^
Well yes. $200 on Indiana -7.5 & Wisconsin -4.5 made their fuck ups profitable if not enjoyable.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:54 PM ^
I did but that was around the time my gummy kicked in. Recommend sedating yourself for the reminder of the games.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:59 PM ^
I've been doing this for every game this year. If I didn't, guaranteed I would be screaming at the tv. Instead, i've calmly watched, shook my head and moved on with my Saturday. Best decision I could have made.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:09 PM ^
I hate this staff. Ed W is the only one I would keep if/when staff changes are made.