Per Bruce Feldman: Don Brown Has Been Sacked
December 22nd, 2020 at 5:56 PM ^
After Northwestern held OSU to 22, I think the logical question was, why can't Brown? Northwestern had a new D coordinator etc. But somehow I think OSU prepares for the Wolverines in a way that brings them to a whole new level, I don't think things change until Michigan takes a big stride on offense. Getting rid of Brown doesn't mean much to me. Thats the way I see it.
December 22nd, 2020 at 8:10 PM ^
I disagree with that thought on OSU preparing for us differently. If it was another regular season game, I would tend to side with you. However, OSU was playing for a B1G championship and a shot at the playoffs. They were ultra focused for that game and I highly doubt they underestimated NW. The bigger issue on that game was that their receiving core was depleted and had a lot of younger guys in the lineup.
December 22nd, 2020 at 9:16 PM ^
It's a simple answer really....Northwestern was able to get pressure without having to do an all-out blitz, something we never seemed to be able to do. But also, Northwestern didn't leave their corners on islands across the field like Brown did. If you keep things in front of you, and get pressure on Fields...He's just like any other QB that feels consistent pressure. Don Brown made life easier for teams with good/great offenses. Doing things like lining up your safety in man coverage on a 4.3 40 slot guy(We saw that many times).
December 22nd, 2020 at 5:58 PM ^
Time to steal Clemson's DC..... always love what he does for the defense and all...
December 22nd, 2020 at 6:36 PM ^
His kids play at Clemson right now...he’s not going anywhere
December 22nd, 2020 at 7:28 PM ^
He runs the same style defense as Don Brown
December 22nd, 2020 at 6:15 PM ^
Good. Now do Gattis.
December 22nd, 2020 at 6:22 PM ^
He needed to go before Brown. People get caught up in the hype, Gattis has been awful though.
December 22nd, 2020 at 10:34 PM ^
Disagree about Gattis needing to go before Brown and here's why....This was only his 2nd year, and a unique one at that with no spring practices, non conference games etc...But the biggest reason? QB play. Gattis has had Shea Patterson who was more interested in golf for one year, and Joe Milton who in my opinion isn't even a Big10 caliber QB. It's concerning that they couldn't see Mcnamara was the better option sooner, but then again we don't get to see practices. I'm not sure Gattis has 100% full control of the offense either. Seems like there's alot of instances of the Harbaugh power football. I have a hard time believing Gattis went out and got these quick twitch smaller recievers and what we've seen this year is close to the finished product. Next year Michigan could line up Bell and Johnson/Wilson on the outside, with Jackson/Henning/Worthy and have Edwards or Corum in the backfield....Hell maybe even both at the same time. You put any combo of 4 WRs out there and have Edwards/Corum in the backfield...If you can't find a mismatch and attack it then you have no business being an OC. They need to spread defenses out, and attack vertically through the air...Be aggressive. Every year I think this will be the year for it and it never happens. Whoever wins the starting QB job, should be throwing the ball a bare minimum of 30 times a game. Because of how crazy this year was with Covid and Milton looking so bad the coaches had no trust in letting him throw downfield, we don't really know whats in store for this offense. I truly believe that if Mccarthy is the real deal right away, we might finally see a modern offense that passes to setup the run. You can't tell me Harbaugh and all the rest of the coaches don't watch the conference championships or the playoffs and see the QBs have already attempted like 25-30 passes and it's only halftime. My belief is we didn't get to see what Gattis really wants to do because he didn't have the QB to do it. What Mcnamara came in and did even though it was Rutgers, is what Michigan needs to do if they want to compete for a Big10 title.
December 22nd, 2020 at 6:19 PM ^
There were times when I was disappointed that a Don Brown defense gave up a first down to a team, let alone points. Thanks for those times, Don, and Godspeed.
December 22nd, 2020 at 7:29 PM ^
Thanks for everything, DB. Your defense fucking carried this team for the majority of the time you were here, and I will never question you putting in anything less than your best effort.
December 22nd, 2020 at 7:37 PM ^
Jim will coach Qb room now.
December 22nd, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
Might want to duck after typing that....
December 22nd, 2020 at 9:11 PM ^
And the circus continues........
December 22nd, 2020 at 10:33 PM ^
Yeesh...
December 22nd, 2020 at 7:37 PM ^
Milton just posted knoxsville , Tennessee on Instagram
December 22nd, 2020 at 8:01 PM ^
Will be rather frustrating if he does well somewhere else. Not because I wish him I’ll but further points to the inability to develop players.
December 22nd, 2020 at 8:19 PM ^
Great. Now we just need to fire Harbaugh. Fire Manuel, can Shlissel, and gut the boosters to change the shitty cancerous culture that ruins the program in favor of doing things "the right way" while simultaneously exploiting the football players. As long as we have high academic standards and can feel morally superior that's all that matters.
December 22nd, 2020 at 8:51 PM ^
One (weird) thing about Don Brown's defense, which might not be related to his defense at all, is I feel like it never comes up with big turnovers in big games. I just looked, and we've had 1 interception against OSU in 2016 (Jabrill picked it off, leading to the infamous fumble at the 1 yard line by Speight). Since then, no defensive fumbles or interceptions, just OSU botching 2 kicks.
December 22nd, 2020 at 9:20 PM ^
Well lets think about it, who is the last DB that was a true ballhawk? Or even aware enough to turn around when the ball was in the air? That would be Jourdan Lewis and David Long, Ambry I guess belongs in that group as well. But the safety play has been garbage, they can't catch the ball if it's right in their hands. Dax Hill in Don Brown's scheme was a complete non factor. They just don't make plays to strip/deflect or jump routes to get turnovers.
December 22nd, 2020 at 9:09 PM ^
Ah yes let’s make Don Brown the sacrificial lamb for Harbaugh’s inability as a head coach. Once again they fire the wrong fucking guy. I feel bad for the recruits and players at this point.
December 22nd, 2020 at 9:23 PM ^
Sure, Harbaugh deserves to be fired...But lets not pretend that Don Brown has somehow been unfairly fired. That guy should've been gone after the '18 OSU game. PSU whooped our defense 2 years in a row doing the exact same thing(fast reciever in the slot against our slow footed safety) and Brown couldn't adjust.
December 22nd, 2020 at 10:02 PM ^
This doesn't change much for me. Offense will still suck like it has Years 1-6.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:08 AM ^
This fixes nothing. The issue is Harbaugh.
Brown did what he did with Harbaugh’s blessing, meaning Harbaugh was either too timid to correct him or too ignorant to know there was a problem.
Again, there was no issue with cutting off the head of the snake when it came to the previous two coaches; why all of a sudden is there an issue with this coach?
December 23rd, 2020 at 4:47 PM ^
Well, someone had to get sacked because we know that it wasn't opposing teams' QBs that were getting sacked this season.
December 25th, 2020 at 1:22 PM ^
Good coach and he certainly isn't/wasn't the only problem. Biggest thing is he wouldn't make adjustments. If we had more talent or pressure affected the other team, we won. If we didn't or it didn't, insert any elite team here, we were toast.